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I just purchased the Paul Shirley book Can I Keep My Jersey?  So far it’s pretty funny but I wanted to post one particular passage because it deals with UK.  Shirley, who is from Kansas, was pretty impressed with the UK faithful.  He was EA Sports leading scorer in a November 12, 2003 preseason game with the Cats.  About the game he writes:

(pg 134) Seventeen thousand turned out in Rupp Arena for our long-awaited matchup with Kentucky. In my time with Iowa State, we rarely filled the bottom section of Hilton Coliseum for an exhibition game.  Perhaps Kentuckians are as diehard about their basketball as they claim to be. [UK Box Score]

This wasn’t quite the inverse of the 2005 Champions League Final. While Allenby For Heisman!’s beloved Liverpool were the better team, they certainly weren’t dominant the way Milan were for about eighty percent of the 2005 match. Nevertheless, it’s hard to look past the fact that the team that deserved to win in 2005 lost, and the team that deserved to win in 2007 lost. That must go down as the story of these two matches.

While Manchester United made Milan look like 1970 Brazil in the second leg of their semi-final tie, Liverpool made the Italians look ordinary. Indeed, the Merseysiders had the better chances in the first half and looked quite comfortable until Xabi Alonso was judged, a bit harshly, to have felled Kaka on the edge of the area in the dying minutes of the first half. Andrea Pirlo struck the ensuing free kick toward Pepe Reina’s far post, and the Liverpool keeper looked to have it covered. But the ball fortuitously struck Pippo Inzaghi’s arm and bounced into the Liverpool goal, wrongfooting Reina and allowing Milan to take the lead into the half.

Depending on who you support, the deflection may or may not have been a handball. After seeing the replay, we thought it was. But, in the interest of candidness, after seeing it in real time and before seeing a replay, we didn’t even know the shot was deflected. So we really don’t have much room to criticize.

Here it is; you be the judge:

We’re a bit torn. Our first thought is that Pippo is an opportunist not against bending the rules. But, then again, is he quick-thinking enough to do that intentionally?

Milan tacked on a second goal after Liverpool, chasing the equalizer, subbed the superb Javier Mascherano for Peter Crouch. The Argentine’s absence allowed Kaka to finally find the space that had eluded him all night, and his through ball was expertly finished by Inzaghi in the eighty-second minute.

Liverpool finally found the net in the eighty-ninth minute after Dirk Kuyt headed home Daniel Agger’s flick off of a corner. For a moment it seemed like a comeback was on the cards. But then . . .

[WARNING — POTENTIAL SOUR GRAPES] the assistant referee signaled only three minutes of stoppage time. Let’s see, in the regular forty-five minutes of the second half, there were two goals, five substitutions, two stoppages for injuries – one for Inzaghi and one for Alessandro Nesta – and a fan running onto the field. And all we get is three minutes?

But wait, there’s more, we didn’t even get to play the minimum three minutes of stoppage time. The referee blew the match dead about two minutes, forty-five seconds into stoppage time, after a Milan substitution, we might add.[/WARNING — POTENTIAL SOUR GRAPES]

Enough of that, though. After the oping goal, it seemed that this simply wasn’t Liverpool’s night. That’s football. The most talented team often doesn’t win, and the team who plays the best on the day regularly doesn’t win. That’s what makes football unique. And that’s what makes it wonderful.

Congrats to Milan. They’re a classy side, despite their match-fixing benefactors.

Roll on August. Give us an out-and-out goal-scorer, a left-winger (or a fit Harry Kewell), and a left back whose priority is defending, and we’ll be genuine title challengers (oh, and cover for Carragher and Agger — assuming Sami Hyypia leaves). Until then . . .

When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the Storm there’s a golden sky
And the sweet, silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart,
And you’ll never walk alone.
You’ll never walk alone.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart,
And you’ll never walk alone.
You’ll ne-ever walk alone.

Onward and upward!

There have been a lot of weird stories concerning Chelsea and animals.

Most recently there was this one concerning a parrot.

A blue-throated Amazon parrot called Chelsea, who screeches whenever anyone mentions Manchester United, has been stolen from his cage.
Chelsea was taken from a garden in North Street in Mears Ashby, Northamptonshire, early on Tuesday. (Link)

Which came on the heals of Jose being arrested for hiding his dog from the police.

JOSE Mourinho’s dog was flown on a private jet to Portugal yesterday at a cost of £20,000. Yorkshire terrier Leya — which had been wanted by authorities over fears it had broken rabies rules — was whisked away from Heathrow by Mourinho’s wife Tami.

The pooch had been hidden since a police raid on Tuesday night by Mourinho, who was arrested and cautioned for obstructing cops. (Link)

While earlier in the year Frank Lampard was in the news when his French mastiff had puppies.

In November Frank Lampard showed that his principal loyalty lies with his French mastiff, Daphne. He refused go to with the Chelsea team to a hotel as Daphne had gone into labour and he demanded to be at the birth. (Link)

CHELSEA superstar Frank Lampard is looking for a lucky fan to give a new home to his two nine-week-old French Mastiff puppies.

The puppies, a boy and a girl, were a part of a large litter born by the England midfielder’s adult dogs Daphney and Rocco. (Link)

It’s been three long weeks since Allenby For Heisman!’s beloved Liverpool Football Club defeated Chelsea at Anfield to book a place in the club’s second European Cup Final in three years. Familiar opponents AC Milan await the Reds. The Jai Lucas/Patrick Patterson recruiting announcements took our minds off of the match for a bit, but we’ve pretty much been thinking about it nonstop since Dirk Kuyt drilled that penalty past Petr Cech on May 1.

We’ve even dreamed about it. We’re very superstitious at A4H!, and the only thing that gives us solace about the dream we had Thursday night is that there’s no way another Liverpool/Milan Champions League Final can end up 3-3 at the end of ninety minutes.

Anyway, here’s what happened: We were stuck at work (looks like we’ll be able to take the afternoon off now, though, fingers crossed) working away at our computer, staying off any Web sites that would give away the score of the match, when – out of the blue – we realized we forgot to set the DVR to record the match. The best way we can describe it is to say it was like the feeling you get when you’re halfway to your vacation destination and you remember you’ve left the garage door open.

We had this realization at about 5.15 p.m., or about thirty minutes after the match would normally be ending. We immediately logged onto ESPN’s Soccernet (not trying to namedrop, that’s where the dream took us), and the headline stated that the score was 3-3 at the end of regulation, and that extra time was being played. There was a picture of Liverpool’s Robbie Fowler (no one is expecting him to start in the final), and the caption said he had scored two of Liverpool’s goals, both from the spot.

As soon as we realized the game was still going on, we sprinted upstairs to the conference room to tune into ESPN2. We immediately looked to the corner of the screen and saw that Milan had scored in extra time, and that the score was now 4-3. We also saw that the extra time had already been played, and the game was now in added time. But Liverpool had won a corner, and Stevie Gerrard whipped it, where a towering Sami Hyypia met it spectacularly and headed the ball down into the corner. Clarence Seedorf was manning the post, but the ball somehow squirted between his legs and across the line before he could hack it out! But the linesman didn’t give the goal! He ruled it didn’t cross the line! And now the referee is blowing his whistle, and the match is over! And then we wake up. What a crap way to start the weekend, eh?

So. That’s that. We hope it doesn’t mean anything, and by airing it, we hope to lessen any negative impact it might have.

What to make of the game, then? Well, we don’t really do predictions (part of that whole superstitious thing). Heck, we don’t even know what formation Rafa will play. Dominic Fifield at The Guardian seems to be thinking either 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 as he’s reporting that Gerrard play off of Dirk Kuyt. He’s also reporting that Momo Sissoko left training with a hamstring injury. That would suggest a midfield of Zenden, who passed a late fitness test (or perhaps Harry Kewell or John Arne Riise with Alvora Arbeloa slotting in at left back), Xabi Alonso, Xavier Mascherano, and Jermaine Pennant. The Times’ Matt Dickenson tips Pennant to start at right wing as well.

We won’t have any qualms with whatever formation Rafa trots out or whoever he has in the XI. The man knows what he’s doing and we’re confident he’ll give Liverpool a chance to claim its sixth European Cup. That’s all you can ask for.

That’s a pretty lame prediction. So we’ll go this far: whichever team’s central starts shine brightest will win. For Liverpool, that means Masch and Alonso must limit Kaka and Pirlo yet still pace the Liverpool attack. Gerrard must combine well with Kuyt and not let the Dutchman become isolated in attack. He must also win his duel with Gattuso. But all of that’s probably rubbish. With all the prematch hype arround Gerrard and Gattuso, Masch and Kaka and Pirlo, expect Zenden to win it for Liverpool or goalshy Gilardino to grab a hattrick for Milan.

Over the last month, Allenby For Heisman! has had bachelor parties, youth soccer games, weddings, rehearsal dinners, an injury, a friend’s concert, a sickness, and a growing pile of work, but when Patrick “The Basketball Jesus” Patterson signs with Coach Billy Clyde Gillispie and the University of Kentucky, we make time to break out a Mixed Bag Thursday.

 On with the news:

–It’s a Great Day to be a Wildcat.

Let’s get right down to it. The first day of the workweek brought Black Monday, but UK fans have forgotten all about that now. In case you’ve been living under a rock, The Basketball Jesus, the most coveted unsigned recruit in the United States, signed a letter of intent to play amateur basketball for A4H!’s beloved Wildcats on Wednesday in his hometown of Huntington, West Virginia. The Basketball Jesus picked UK over Florida and Duke. 

Now, we have our doubts about whether The Basketball Jesus can live up to the absurd hype that surrounded his signing, but that’s really a moot point. Even if he flops, and we don’t think he will, we’re just not expecting a Gregg Oden- or Kevin Durant-like freshman season, his signing means the Cats are back among the nation’s basketball powers. And, wow, it feels fantastic. This is the most excited we’ve been about a UK recruit since Tim Couch, the Pride of Hyden, committed to the football Wildcats all those years ago. But don’t just take our word for it, take a look at what these proper journos have to say about it:

The Louisville Courier-Journal’s Eric Crawford [Link]

It’s not wise to put too much importance on any one player. And it’s still way too early to know just how good Patterson is. But his signing has significance beyond points and rebounds. Here’s what Patterson means to UK.

He solidifies the possibilities for next season. All of a sudden, defenses will have to be more honest in dealing with the Wildcats’ perimeter threats. He sends a message. By choosing the Wildcats over Florida and Duke, he helps return a little glitz to the name. The top kids watch each other. The best guards watch where the best big men go. And the other way around. He keeps the fans happy. Gillispie’s arrival changed the vibe around the program. Patterson’s signing ensures that the good mojo will last through the summer. With a fan base as large and rabid as UK’s, that’s important.

The Lexington Herald-Leader’s John Clay [Link]

Kentucky has its mojo back.

That’s what Patrick Patterson did yesterday. That’s what the 6-foot-9 forward from Huntington, W.Va., accomplished the second he told a waiting hoops world he would play college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Just like that, Kentucky has momentum again. . . .

True, you can argue Patterson’s worth is a tad overrated, that the overwhelming publicity surrounding yesterday’s announcement had more to do with drama and timing — the final blue-chip prosect yet to reveal his college choice — than the degree of his talent.

Patterson is good.

But is he that good?

Doesn’t matter. Not now anyway. Perception is reality. Perception was, Kentucky couldn’t cut the recruiting mustard anymore. Big-time prospects said thanks but no thanks, and matriculated at Carolina, or Kansas, or Florida, leaving Kentucky to wonder what went wrong.

We’ve said it before, we’re absolutely positive we’ll say it again: Billy Clyde = Legend.

Guess Who’s Back: Patterson to Kentucky [KentuckySportsRadio.com]

Newest Signing Gives Gillispie High Marks [Louisville Courier-Journal]

Forward Progress On Recruiting [Lexington Herald-Leader]

–Does Rupert Murdoch own Gannett?

According to Sunday’s edition of the Courier-Journal, us Wildcat fans are sick, twisted, and pathetic. And quite possibly cheaters. This is because we have fans who post things on potential recruits’ Facebook and MySpace pages, something the CJ finds remarkable. (Despite the fact that fans of tons of other schools do this, too.) One such potential recruit was Beas Hamga. These dirty, conniving fans had the nerve to post scandalous things like “Come to UK and you’ll be a rock star!” and “I love UK, I’d love to see you wearing Wildcat Blue” on Hamga’s Facebook and MySpace pages. We say “things like” rather than list actual examples because the CJ story didn’t list actual examples.

According to Hamga’s guardian and AAU coach, Mark Adams, posts like this mean one thing, and one thing only: Cat fans were making under-the-table pitches to bring Hamga to the Bluegrass.

“But when somebody on there says, ‘We graduated from Lexington, we go to every game and we’d love to see you there,’ then it’s pretty obvious what it is.”

Or, as the CJ more eloquently states:

Beas Hamga, a talented post player searching for a college, made an official visit to the University of Kentucky this weekend.

But his AAU coach and legal guardian, Mark Adams, is questioning some of the motivation behind the Cameroon native’s sudden interest in the Wildcats.

According to the story, Adams said there were between one hundred and two hundred posts from UK fans on the sites, something the CJ apparently didn’t verify, despite the fact that there’s, you know, quite a difference between one hundred and two hundred. It’s the same as the difference between zero and one hundred, in fact. But, really, why would you verify Adams’ words? AAU coaches are notorious fountains of truth and integrity. Adams also said there were posts from fans of other schools, but that the number of UK posts dwarfed these posts. No, that wasn’t verified, either.

Anyway, it’s good to know the story had a happy ending. Hamga decided against coming to UK and signed with UNLV instead. Now, Adams won’t lose any sleep about Hamga drowning in the cesspool that is the Athens of the West because the Cameroonian will be spending his formidable years in wholesome Las Vegas, Nevada. We’re sure the fact that UNLV has had no UK-like run-ins with the NCAA over recruiting violations provides Adams with tremendous piece of mind.

Guardian Alleges UK-Tinged Web Pressure On Hamga [Louisville Courier-Journal]

Not a Coach? Then Leave Those Prospects Alone [Louisville Courier-Journal] (We wonder if this applies to journos, too. Probably just fans.)

–It’s only a loan,
It’s only a loan,
In ancient Greece,
We’ll bring it back home

If you care about the world’s football, you no doubt know A4H!’s beloved Liverpool are back in the Champions League Final for the second time in three years. They’ll face AC Milan, the same club they famously defeated on penalties after staging an outrageous comeback from three goals down. [YouTube]

We’ve got another wedding-packed weekend – when will it ever end? – but we’re promising a preview and review of Wednesday’s match.

That’s all the time we have for now. Onward and upward!

It’s not exactly Dewey over Truman, but this was a bad mistake.

Huntington High start is heading to the S.E.C.
Story by Steve McGehee Email | Bio

HUNTINGTON — Patrick Patterson said he will attend the University of Florida.

Patterson made his decision in front T.V. cameras, family and friends Wednesday afternoon at Huntington High School. Patterson picked the Gators over Kentucky and Duke.

He averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds a game during his senior season, which was capped off with a third consecutive AAA State.

Patterson was one of the few top-rated high school players left to announce his decision. Patterson is the sixth player off the Highlanders team this year to move onto the college basketball ranks.

O.J. Mayo committed to USC back in the fall, Chris Early picked Oklahoma and Jamal Williams landed a scholarship with the University of Charleston.

Michael Taylor will play at West Virginia State University and Bruce Senior plans to walk on at Marshall.

Copyright 2007 West Virginia Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Link to the corrected story (WOWK TV)